Residents approve Lyme-Old Lyme school budget

Lyme and Old Lyme residents Tuesday night approved a $31,963,401 school district budget for 2014-15, a 0.7 percent increase over the current spending plan.

Overall, the budget referendum came down to 401 residents in favor and 90 opposed. In Lyme, the vote was 143 in favor and 21 opposed. In Old Lyme, the vote was 258 in favor and 69 opposed.

Superintendent of Schools Ian Neviaser expressed gratitude for the community’s support of education.

“We’re pleased that the community came out to support our budget, and we’re excited to be able to move forward with the excellent educational programming for the community,” he said.

Board of Education Chairman Jim Witkins also said he was happy to present to the community a budget that was less than a 1 percent increase, but still accomplished significant technological upgrades for the district as well as the renovation of Center School.